A man from Philadelphia, USA set out to eat all 40 chickens in 40 days. Now, at the end of the self-imposed challenge, he says with relief: “My body is ready to mend”.

Alexander Tominsky, 31, became known as the “Philadelphia Chicken Man.” He said in an interview that his promise to eat a chicken a day came from a feeling. “I keep saying it, but it’s true. It felt like the right thing to do,” the man told Canadian radio station CBC.

The initial plan was to feed the bird for 30 days, but he said he knew he could manage a few more days. “It was something in my subconscious. On day 30, I didn’t feel much pain, so I went up to 40”, he says.

To end the challenge, he invited friends and followers to an event last Sunday (6) where he ate his fortieth and final whole chicken. According to the American newspaper New York Times, he was initially able to eat the bird in 20 minutes. However, over time, it took him two hours to finish each meal. These were usually his only meals during the challenge.

Consequences

As told to the New York Times, Alexander lost 7 kg in 40 days. Nutritionist Marisa Meshulam told PopSugar that eating this way “may not be dangerous in the short term, it’s definitely not healthy.”

She emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods. “Our bodies are designed to eat all the macronutrients — protein, fat, and carbs — on a daily basis. If we only eat roast chicken, we’ll survive on fat and protein, but no real carbs,” Marissa says.

“Our gut health depends on carbohydrates (especially fiber) to survive. A lack of fiber in our diet can harm gut health,” the nutritionist highlighted.